Protection and Controls Engineer

About Halker:

Halker is a growing, Colorado-based engineering and consulting firm helping solve complex challenges across the energy industry. Named a 2026 Colorado Companies to Watch winner, we’re proud to be recognized not only for where we’re going, but for the team and culture we’ve built along the way.

At Halker, people are our business. Our engineers, designers, project professionals, and business teams work side by side on meaningful, technically challenging projects across oil & gas, power, and environmental markets. You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with experienced leaders, build your expertise, bring forward new ideas, and see the impact of your work.

We’re growing, and that creates opportunity for our clients, our business, and especially our people. If you want to do meaningful work, keep growing in your career, and have a real voice in what comes next, we’d like to meet you.

About the Role:

We are seeking a skilled Protection and Controls Engineer that will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining protective relay systems and control schemes for electrical power systems. This role ensures a safe, reliable, and efficient operation of transmission and distribution networks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Design & Development

• Develop protection and control schemes for substations, transmission lines, and generation facilities
• Specify and configure protective relays, control panels, and associated equipment.

System Analysis

• Perform short-circuit, coordination, and arc-flash studies.
• Analyze system faults and relay operations to ensure proper protection.

Testing & Commissioning

• Oversee installation, testing, and commissioning of protection and control systems.
• Troubleshoot and resolve relay misoperation or system anomalies

Compliance & Standards

• Oversee installation, testing, and commissioning of protection and control systems.
• Ensure designs meet NERC, IEEE, and local utility standards.
• Maintain documentation for regulatory compliance and audits.

Collaboration

• Work with project teams, field technicians, and SCADA engineers.
• Provide technical support during outages and maintenance activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems focus preferred).
• 3–5 years in protection and control engineering.
• Proficiency with relay settings software (e.g., SEL AcSELerator, GE EnerVista).
• Knowledge of power system analysis tools (ETAP, ASPEN, or similar).
• Familiarity with SCADA systems and communication protocols (DNP3, IEC 61850).
• Preferred: Professional Engineer (PE) license or ability to obtain.
• Experience designing high-voltage substation projects.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and documentation abilities.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Compensation (i.e. Base Salary) is negotiable and shall be offered commensurate with experience.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and other Health Benefits
• 401K Program with Company Match
• Work alongside industry-leading talent, with a flexible working environment and fast-growing company

Be Adaptable ~ Be Collaborative ~ Be Humbly Confident ~ Hustle ~ Take Ownership ~ Be Service Focused ~ Show Ingenuity